My Son Knows Everything

You could say.....I could agree with you , but then we would both be wrong!

I certainly would not tolerate his behaviour totally bad manners on his behalf,how does he get on at work I wonder with an attitude like that ?
Neither of my boys would speak to me or their father in this tone they have been brought up to respect others,has he changed since he left home and married or has he always been this way.?

On such an occasion I have said.... but that’s just your opinion.

Also have said ..... did you mean to sound as rude as you did.

It might not have made much difference but it made me feel better.

You have allowed him to get to twenty-eight and behave like this?
This is just rudeness and you and your husband should not tolerate it.
What effect is it having on the children?

You could try saying how dare you speak to me like that in my own home! I have as much right to an opinion as you!

Or, could you write him a letter telling him how upsetting his treatment of you is and is there something he's not telling you that's behind it?

Btw, is your husband his father? Could he not have a word with him? I understand you're worried you may lose contact with the grandchildren, but you can't let yourself be treated like this, it's so disrespectful and if you allow him to continue it'll only get worse.

Sounds a bit Aspergery
Id let it go over my head and say ‘oh right, ok’ ....end of
I certainly wouldn’t let it upset me he’s the one with the problem just let it go way OVER your head

CraftyGranny thank you for the link, I'd forgotten what a comic genius PamAyres is.

Thanks for the link Crafty

If I’m sure I’m right about something, I find that ‘I think if you check it out, you’ll find I’m right’ works quite well, especially if you can quote a source.
If it’s a matter of opinion, ‘Well of course you’re entitled to your opinion, but I’m entitled to mine too and I disagree’ is a useful riposte.

Another trick is to feign interest in what they’re actually saying and get them to explain at length what they actually think and why. Eventually you might be able to catch him out if he says something that is bullsh*t.

The important thing is to remain calmly assertive and not let him see that you’re upset.

Is he self taught? Or does he take after his super intelligent parents?

Just a ‘really’ with raised eyebrows, then a quick subject change or just walking away into another room, sounds easier than arguing, or just reduce the number of times he’s with you.
We have a family member who is occasionally like that when he is late taking his pills and he will argue that black is white, so I just stop talking and refuse to speak, but it’s very trying, without starting an all out row.

He sounds very rude.

Has he always been like this, or got worse since he married and became more independent?

Could you just say in a quiet voice 'Please dont be rude' and leave it at that. He will hopefully mature and realise there is a lot he doesnt know. Was it Mark Twain who said 'When I was 18 my Dad knew nothing, now I am 23 he has learnt quite a lot!' I have probably misquoted that but that was the gist. Good luck.

I think I would throw in a few, Really! Wow’s, You Think! I think he’d get the message eventually, I’m sorry but I’m not a fan of know all’s

It’s as annoying as DH giving wrong information then saying ‘no, I didn’t say that’

Here's the Pam Ayres link.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4oydSZTAns

Children tend to go through a phase like this, while at University with mine. Fortunately they grew up though it does surface from time to time. I try not to engage.

Perhaps a response of “is that what you think?” . He can make what he wants of it.

My MIL would just say

“If you say so.” In a tone that totally closed the discussion down ?

How about a sarky 'Of course you are the expert' or similar comment. If he says anything, you can just say you were bowing to his superior knowledge.

Last time I was the victim of it, I said 'How woke.' It was a term that had been used by this individual before 'woke' became ironic, and it was interpreted, as intended, as my being sarcastic. Oh how I laughed.

I would be inclined to reduce contact. I would also pull him up on his rudeness. It's not much of a relationship if he can't at least show some manners. Possibly he continues like this because it's how he has always been?

Next time he asks you something just say, quote " I have nothing to declare but my genius ", unquote.

How irritating, I too know a superior being like this, don't we all? Sadly also lacking in self awareness, isn't that always the way?
I think the only thing you can do is treat it with humour and reply with, "How wonderful it must be to know it all," or "Who's a clever clogs then?" Then change the subject.

I just smirk and say "yes, dear". After a while, it sinks in that they are not a walking encyclopaedia...
But seriously, I would comment on the bad manners of interrupting. If nothing else, "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted..."

Ditto as Grandmabatty said.